Buffer tubes having reduced stress whitening

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are buffer tubes of various colors having reduced stress whitening while retaining compliance with standard color requirements. In this regard, each buffer tube includes a polymeric tube that typically has a small amount of titanium dioxide. Each buffer tube typically demonstrates color compliance with the EIA Standard EIA-359-A.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

This U.S. nonprovisional application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/419,752 for Buffer Tubes Having Reduced Stress Whitening (filed Dec. 3, 2010) and U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/454,094 for Buffer Tubes Having Reduced Stress Whitening (filed Mar. 18, 2011), each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to optical-fiber buffer tubes having reduced stress whitening while retaining compliance with standard color requirements.

BACKGROUND

As compared with traditional wire-based networks, optical-fiber communication networks are capable of transmitting significantly more information at significantly higher speeds. Optical fibers, therefore, are being increasingly employed in communication networks.

Within fiber optic networks, optical fibers are commonly positioned within buffer tubes. Depending upon the number of buffer tubes within a particular cable, industry standards require that each buffer tube be a particular color.

Polypropylene is often used to form buffer tubes because of its desirable mechanical properties. One problem associated with the use of polypropylene is that stress whitening can occur when polypropylene is plastically deformed. Such deformation can occur during the manufacture or installation of optical-fiber cables and buffer tubes.

Accordingly, a need exists for polypropylene buffer tubes that have reduced stress whitening while fully complying with industry color standards.

SUMMARY

The present invention embraces buffer tubes having small amounts of titanium dioxide. In this regard, buffer tubes in accordance with the present invention typically include a polymeric tube having at least about 80 weight percent homopolymer polypropylene and/or polypropylene copolymer. The polymeric tube also includes between about 200 and 8,000 ppm titanium dioxide (e.g., between about 700 and 1,200 ppm titanium dioxide). Typically, the buffer tube includes one or more optical fibers positioned within the polymeric tube. Buffer tubes in accordance with the present invention typically demonstrate color compliance with the EIA Standard EIA-359-A (e.g., as defined by the Munsell color system).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 graphically depicts the Munsell color system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one aspect, the present invention embraces a polymeric composition that includes polypropylene modified with small amounts of titanium dioxide in order to reduce stress whitening.

More particularly, the present invention embraces optical-fiber buffer tubes possessing excellent stress-whitening properties. These buffer tubes also demonstrate color compliance with the EIA Standard EIA-359-A. These advantages have been demonstrated in polypropylene-based buffer tubes that include small amounts of titanium dioxide.

A buffer tube in accordance with the present invention includes a tube formed from one or more polymeric materials. In this regard, exemplary polymeric materials include polyolefin homopolymers (e.g., homopolymer polypropylene), polyolefin blends (e.g., a blend of polypropylene polymers and polyethylene polymers), and polyolefin copolymers (e.g., random or block polypropylene-polyethylene copolymer).

An exemplary optical-fiber buffer tube is formed of a polypropylene-based composition, such as impact-modified polypropylene. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that use of linear low-density polypropylene (LLDPE), low-density polypropylene (LDPE), and/or high-density polypropylene (HDPE) is within the scope of the present invention. In addition, polypropylene (e.g., isotactic polypropylene) may be combined with other polymers (e.g., other polyolefins), such as polyethylene.

The polymeric tube typically includes at least about 80 weight percent homopolymer polypropylene and/or polypropylene copolymer. More typically, the polymeric tube includes at least about 90 weight percent (e.g., 95 weight percent or more) homopolymer polypropylene and/or polypropylene copolymer.

By way of further example, a satisfactory polypropylene copolymer might include between about 2 and 15 weight percent ethylene monomers and polyethylene oligomers that are randomly copolymerized into the polymer chains (e.g., between about 5 and 10 weight percent comonomer substitution).

Various polypropylene-based compositions are disclosed in the following U.S. patents, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety: U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,816 for Polypropylene-Polyethylene Copolymer Buffer Tubes for Optical Fiber Cables and Method for Making the Same; U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,362 for Polypropylene-Polyethylene Copolymer Buffer Tubes for Optical Fiber Cables and Method for Making the Same; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,023 for Polyolefin Materials Suitable for Optical Fiber Cable Components.

To facilitate ready identification of buffer tubes within a fiber-optic cable, the polymeric tube typically includes an identifying colorant so that the resulting buffer tube complies with industry color standards. Accordingly, in a particular aspect, the present invention embraces buffer tubes that are blue, orange, green, brown, red, or violet.

As noted, polypropylene-based buffer tubes are susceptible to undesirable stress whitening. Conventional blue, orange, green, brown, red, and violet buffer tubes are particularly susceptible to stress whitening.

That said, it has been discovered that the inclusion of small amounts of a whitening agent, typically titanium dioxide (TiO₂), reduces the incidence of unwanted stress whitening in blue, orange, green, brown, red, and violet buffer tubes (e.g., buffer tubes that have been subjected to significant plastic deformation). Thus, in order to achieve buffer tubes that demonstrate reduced stress whitening, these polymeric tubes include one or more whitening agents. Besides titanium dioxide, other exemplary inorganic whitening agents may include calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), talc, lithopone, antimony oxide, zinc oxide (ZnO), or lead carbonate (PbCO₂).

These polymeric tubes typically include small amounts of titanium dioxide. It should be emphasized that the concentration of titanium dioxide in each polymeric tube depends upon the desired color of the resulting buffer tube. This is so because an optical-fiber buffer tube must achieve not only satisfactory stress-whitening performance but also compliance with standard color requirements. Despite the inclusion of a whitening agent, blue, orange, green, brown, red, and violet buffer tubes in accordance with the present invention comply with industry color requirements.

Thus, red, brown, green, orange, and blue polymeric tubes typically include between about 100 and 10,000 ppm (parts per million) titanium dioxide (e.g., between about 200 and 8,000 ppm TiO₂), more typically less than about 7,500 ppm titanium dioxide. Even more typically, these polymeric tubes contain between about 200 and 5,000 ppm titanium dioxide, such as between about 500 and 2,500 ppm titanium dioxide (e.g., between about 700 and 1,500 ppm titanium dioxide). In one exemplary embodiment, these polymeric tubes contain between about 1,000 and 2,000 ppm titanium dioxide (e.g., between about 1,100 and 1,500 ppm titanium dioxide, such as about 1,300 ppm). In yet another exemplary embodiment, these polymeric tubes contain between about 700 and 1,200 ppm titanium dioxide (e.g., between about 950 and 1,150 ppm titanium dioxide). In a further exemplary embodiment, these polymeric tubes contain between about 1,500 and 3,000 ppm titanium dioxide (e.g., between about 2,000 and 2,500 ppm titanium dioxide).

Violet polymeric tubes typically include between about 100 and 10,000 ppm (parts per million) titanium dioxide (e.g., between about 200 and 8,000 ppm TiO₂), more typically less than about 7,500 ppm titanium dioxide (e.g., less than about 5,000 ppm titanium dioxide). Even more typically, violet polymeric tubes contain between about 200 and 2,000 ppm titanium dioxide, such as between about 200 and 1,200 ppm titanium dioxide (e.g., between about 400 and 1,000 ppm titanium dioxide). In one exemplary embodiment, violet polymeric tubes contain between about 200 and 600 ppm titanium dioxide. In yet another exemplary embodiment, violet polymeric tubes contain between about 800 and 1,200 ppm titanium dioxide (e.g., between about 950 and 1,150 ppm titanium dioxide). In a further exemplary embodiment, violet polymeric tubes contain between about 1,500 and 3,000 ppm titanium dioxide (e.g., between about 2,000 and 2,500 ppm titanium dioxide).

In another particular aspect, the present invention embraces buffer tubes that are slate, rose, or aqua.

Unlike, blue, orange, green, brown, red, and violet buffer tubes, slate, rose, and aqua buffer tubes have typically contained some amount of whitening agent (e.g., titanium dioxide) in order to achieve satisfactory color dimensions. Conventional slate, rose, and aqua buffer tubes, however, are still susceptible to stress whitening.

It has been discovered that adjusting the amount of whitening agent, typically titanium dioxide (TiO₂), reduces the incidence of unwanted stress whitening in slate, rose, and aqua buffer tubes (e.g., buffer tubes that have been subjected to significant plastic deformation). Besides titanium dioxide, other exemplary inorganic whitening agents may include calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), talc, lithopone, antimony oxide, zinc oxide (ZnO), or lead carbonate (PbCO₃).

Rose and aqua polymeric tubes typically include between about 4,000 and 12,000 ppm (parts per million) titanium dioxide, more typically between about 4,000 and 10,000 ppm titanium dioxide (e.g., between about 6,000 and 10,000 ppm titanium dioxide). Even more typically, these polymeric tubes contain between about 7,000 and 9,000 ppm titanium dioxide, such as between about 7,500 and 8,500 ppm titanium dioxide. In one exemplary embodiment, Rose and aqua polymeric tubes contain between about 6,000 and 8,000 ppm titanium dioxide. In yet another exemplary embodiment, Rose and aqua polymeric tubes contain between about 5,500 and 7,000 ppm titanium dioxide.

Buffer-tube color is typically defined by the Munsell color system, which is depicted in FIG. 1. In accordance with the Munsell color system, each color is defined by three color dimensions: (i) hue; (ii) value (i.e., lightness); and (iii) chroma (i.e., color purity). Table 1 (below) provides the typical Munsell-color-system dimensions of the present buffer tubes. More typically, the present buffer tubes have color dimensions at or near the centroid of the dimensions specified in Table 1. The Munsell-color-system dimensions depicted in Table 1 comply with industry standards.

TABLE 1 Buffer-Tube Munsell-Color-System Dimensions Color Hue Value Chroma Blue 7.5B - 5PB   3-5.2 ≧8 Orange 10R - 5YR 5-7 ≧10 Green 9GY - 5G 4-6 ≧8 Brown 7.5R - 7.5YR 2.5-4.5 4.5-8 Slate ANY 4-6 ≦1 Red 10RP - 5.5R 3-5 ≧10 Violet 10PB - 5P   3-5.5 ≧5.5 Rose 5R - 5RP 6-8 ≧4 Aqua 5B - 5BG 6-8 ≧4

Accordingly, the present buffer tubes conform with the color specification defined in the EIA Standard EIA-359-A, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The whitening agent may be incorporated into the polymeric tube by mixing the whitening agent with a colorant (e.g., a blue color concentrate). This pre-mixture is then added to a base polymeric material (e.g., impact-modified polypropylene). For example, the pre-mixture and the base polymeric material may be mixed at an extruder, which is used to form the buffer tube.

By way of example, the whitening agent(s) may be incorporated into the polymeric tube via a masterbatch process. First, a polymeric masterbatch is created by mixing a carrier material (e.g., polypropylene) with proper amounts of the desired colorant (e.g., a red colorant) and whitening agent(s) (e.g., titanium dioxide). The polymeric masterbatch and the polymeric composition (e.g., polypropylene copolymer) are typically mixed in pelletized form at an extruder (e.g., continuously extruded about an optical fiber). In an exemplary process embodiment, an optical fiber is advanced through an extruder crosshead, which forms a molten polymeric buffer tube around the optical fiber. The molten polymeric buffer tube subsequently cools to form a final product (e.g., an optical-fiber buffer tube).

Buffer tubes in accordance with the present invention have demonstrated reduced stress whitening. In particular, 2.5-millimeter-diameter buffer tubes in accordance with the present invention have been evaluated by wrapping blue, orange, green, brown, slate, red, violet, rose, and aqua buffer tubes five times around an eight millimeter mandrel. The buffer tubes were evaluated for stress whitening both (i) during wrapping and (ii) after wrapping. It was observed that each colored buffer tube demonstrated no stress whitening (or at most minor stress whitening) both during wrapping and after wrapping.

By way of comparison, conventional colored buffer tubes were also evaluated in the same manner. Many of the conventional buffer tubes demonstrated moderate to severe stress whitening.

As noted, buffer tubes in accordance with the present invention comply with the color specification defined in the EIA Standard EIA-359-A. Indeed, exemplary blue, orange, green, brown, slate, red, violet, rose, and aqua buffer tubes have been tested to show color compliance. In particular, these colored buffer tubes were pre-conditioned for at least 24 hours at standard ambient conditions as defined in the TIA/EIA-455-B standard test procedure, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. After pre-conditioning, each buffer tube was tested with a Minolta™ CR-241 colorimeter. Each buffer tube demonstrated color compliance with the EIA Standard EIA-359-A.

One or more optical fibers may be positioned within a buffer tube according to the present invention.

In one embodiment, the polymeric tube includes one or more multimode optical fibers (e.g., conventional multimode fibers with a 50-micron core, such as OM2 multimode fibers, that comply with the ITU-T G.651.1 recommendations). The ITU-T G.651.1 standard (July 2007) is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Exemplary multimode optical fibers that may be employed include MaxCap™ multimode optical fibers (OM2+, OM3, or OM4) commercially available from Draka (Claremont, N.C.).

Alternatively, the present buffer tube may include bend-insensitive multimode fibers, such as MaxCap™-BB-OMx multimode fibers commercially available from Draka (Claremont, N.C.). In this regard, bend-insensitive multimode optical fibers typically have macrobending losses of (i) no more than 0.1 dB at a wavelength of 850 nanometers for a winding of two turns around a spool with a bending radius of 15 millimeters and (ii) no more than 0.3 dB at a wavelength of 1300 nanometers for a winding of two turns around a spool with a bending radius of 15 millimeters.

In contrast, in accordance with the ITU-T G.651.1 recommendations, standard multimode optical fibers have macrobending losses of (i) no more than 1 dB at a wavelength of 850 nanometers for a winding of two turns around a spool with a bending radius of 15 millimeters and (ii) no more than 1 dB at a wavelength of 1300 nanometers for a winding of two turns around a spool with a bending radius of 15 millimeters. Moreover, as measured using a winding of two turns around a spool with a bending radius of 15 millimeters, such standard multimode optical fibers typically have macrobending losses of (i) greater than 0.1 dB, more typically greater than 0.2 dB (e.g., 0.3 dB or more), at a wavelength of 850 nanometers and (ii) greater than 0.3 dB, more typically greater than 0.4 dB (e.g., 0.5 dB or more), at a wavelength of 1300 nanometers.

In another embodiment, the present buffer tube includes a plurality of standard single-mode fibers (SSMF). Suitable single-mode optical fibers (e.g., enhanced single-mode fibers (ESMF)) that are compliant with the ITU-T G.652.D recommendations are commercially available, for instance, from Draka (Claremont, N.C.). The ITU-T G.652 recommendations (November 2009) and each of its attributes (i.e., A, B, C, and D) are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

In yet another embodiment, the present buffer tube includes a plurality of bend-insensitive single-mode optical fibers. Bend-insensitive single-mode optical fibers, which are less susceptible to attenuation (e.g., caused by microbending or macrobending), are commercially available from Draka (Claremont, N.C.) under the trade name BendBright®. BendBright® optical fibers are compliant with the ITU-T G.652.D recommendations. That said, it is within the scope of the present invention to employ a bend-insensitive glass fiber that meets the ITU-T G.657.A recommendations (e.g., the ITU-T G.657.A1 (November 2009) and the ITU-T G.657.A2 (November 2009) subcategories) and/or the ITU-T G.657.B recommendations (e.g., the ITU-T G.657.B2 (November 2009) and the ITU-T G.657.B3 (November 2009) subcategories). The ITU-T G.657.A/B recommendations are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

In this regard, particularly outstanding bend-insensitive single-mode glass fibers for use in the present invention are commercially available from Draka (Claremont, N.C.) under the trade name BendBrightXS®. BendBrightXS® optical fibers are not only compliant with both the ITU-T G.652.D and ITU-T G.657.A/B recommendations but also demonstrate significant improvement with respect to both macrobending and microbending. As compared with such bend-insensitive single-mode optical fibers, conventional single-mode optical fibers typically not comply with either the ITU-T G.657.A recommendations or the ITU-T G.657.B recommendations, but do typically comply with the ITU-T G.652 recommendations (e.g., the ITU-T G.652.D recommendations).

As set forth in commonly assigned International Patent Application Publication No. WO 2009/062131 A1 for a Microbend Resistant Optical Fiber and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2009/0175583 for a Microbend Resistant Optical Fiber, pairing a bend-insensitive glass fiber (e.g., Draka's single-mode glass fibers available under the trade name BendBrightXS®) and a primary coating having very low modulus achieves optical fibers having exceptionally low losses (e.g., reductions in microbend sensitivity of at least 10× as compared with a single-mode fiber employing a conventional coating system). Each of these patent publications is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The optical fibers deployed in the present buffer tubes may employ the coatings disclosed in International Patent Application Publication No. WO 2009/062131 A1 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2009/0175583 with either single-mode optical fibers or multimode optical fibers.

Optical fibers typically have an outer diameter of between about 235 microns and 265 microns, although the use of optical fibers having a smaller diameter is within the scope of the present invention.

By way of example, the component glass fiber may have an outer diameter of about 125 microns. With respect to the optical fiber's surrounding coating layers, the primary coating may have an outer diameter of between about 175 microns and 195 microns (i.e., a primary coating thickness of between about 25 microns and 35 microns) and the secondary coating may have an outer diameter of between about 235 microns and 265 microns (i.e., a secondary coating thickness of between about 20 microns and 45 microns). At least one of the coating layers—typically the secondary coating—may be colored and/or possess other markings to help identify individual fibers. Optionally, the optical fiber may include an outermost ink layer, which is typically between two and ten microns.

In one alternative embodiment, an optical fiber may possess a reduced diameter (e.g., an outermost diameter between about 150 microns and 230 microns). In this alternative optical fiber configuration, the thickness of the primary coating and/or secondary coating is reduced, while the diameter of the component glass fiber is maintained at about 125 microns.

By way of example, in such exemplary embodiments the primary coating layer may have an outer diameter of between about 135 microns and about 175 microns (e.g., about 160 microns), typically less than 165 microns (e.g., between about 135 microns and 150 microns) and usually more than 140 microns (e.g., between about 145 microns and 155 microns, such as about 150 microns). Moreover, in such exemplary embodiments the secondary coating layer may have an outer diameter of between about 150 microns and about 230 microns (e.g., more than about 165 microns, such as 190-210 microns or so), typically between about 180 microns and 200 microns. In other words, the total diameter of the optical fiber is reduced to less than about 230 microns (e.g., between about 195 microns and 205 microns, and especially about 200 microns).

In another alternative embodiment, the diameter of the component glass fiber may be reduced to less than 125 microns (e.g., between about 60 microns and 120 microns), perhaps between about 70 microns and 115 microns (e.g., about 80-110 microns). This may be achieved, for instance, by reducing the thickness of one or more cladding layers. As compared with the prior alternative embodiment, (i) the total diameter of the optical fiber may be reduced (i.e., the thickness of the primary and secondary coatings are maintained in accordance with the prior alternative embodiment) or (ii) the respective thicknesses of the primary and/or secondary coatings may be increased relative to the prior alternative embodiment (e.g., such that the total diameter of the optical fiber might be maintained).

By way of illustration, with respect to the former, a component glass fiber having a diameter of between about 90 and 100 microns might be combined with a primary coating layer having an outer diameter of between about 110 microns and 150 microns (e.g., about 125 microns) and a secondary coating layer having an outer diameter of between about 130 microns and 190 microns (e.g., about 155 microns). With respect to the latter, a component glass fiber having a diameter of between about 90 and 100 microns might be combined with a primary coating layer having an outer diameter of between about 120 microns and 140 microns (e.g., about 130 microns) and a secondary coating layer having an outer diameter of between about 160 microns and 230 microns (e.g., about 195-200 microns).

To supplement the present disclosure, this application incorporates entirely by reference the following commonly assigned patents, patent application publications, and patent applications: U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,643 for a Single Mode Bend Insensitive Fiber for Use in Fiber Optic Guidance Applications (Hodges et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 7,623,747 for a Single Mode Optical Fiber (de Montmorillon et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 7,587,111 for a Single-Mode Optical Fiber (de Montmorillon et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 7,356,234 for a Chromatic Dispersion Compensating Fiber (de Montmorillon et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 7,483,613 for a Chromatic Dispersion Compensating Fiber (Bigot-Astruc et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 7,526,177 for a Fluorine-Doped Optical Fiber (Matthijsse et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 7,555,186 for an Optical Fiber (Flammer et al.); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2009/0252469 A1 for a Dispersion-Shifted Optical Fiber (Sillard et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 8,041,172 for a Transmission Optical Fiber Having Large Effective Area (Sillard et al.); International Patent Application Publication No. WO 2009/062131 A1 for a Microbend-Resistant Optical Fiber, (Overton); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2009/0175583 A1 for a Microbend-Resistant Optical Fiber, (Overton); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2009/0279835 A1 for a Single-Mode Optical Fiber Having Reduced Bending Losses, filed May 6, 2009, (de Montmorillon et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 7,889,960 for a Bend-Insensitive Single-Mode Optical Fiber, (de Montmorillon et al.); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2010/0021170 A1 for a Wavelength Multiplexed Optical System with Multimode Optical Fibers, filed Jun. 23, 2009, (Lumineau et al.); U.S. Pat. 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To supplement the present disclosure, this application further incorporates entirely by reference the following commonly assigned patents, patent application publications, and patent applications: U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,816 for Polypropylene-Polyethylene Copolymer Buffer Tubes for Optical Fiber Cables and Method for Making the Same; U.S. Pat. No. 5,717,805 for Stress Concentrations in an Optical Fiber Ribbon to Facilitate Separation of Ribbon Matrix Material; U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,362 for Polypropylene-Polyethylene Copolymer Buffer Tubes for Optical Fiber Cables and Method for Making the Same; U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,023 for Polyolefin Materials Suitable for Optical Fiber Cable Components; U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,968 for Stress Concentrations in an Optical Fiber Ribbon to Facilitate Separation of Ribbon Matrix Material; U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,087 for an Optical Unit for Fiber Optic Cables; U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,397 for Polypropylene Filler Rods for Optical Fiber Communications Cables; U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,677 for an Optical Fiber Multi-Ribbon and Method for Making the Same; U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,009 for Water Blocking Gels Compatible with Polyolefin Optical Fiber Cable Buffer Tubes and Cables Made Therewith; U.S. Pat. No. 6,215,931 for Flexible Thermoplastic Polyolefin Elastomers for Buffering Transmission Elements in a Telecommunications Cable; U.S. Pat. No. 6,134,363 for a Method for Accessing Optical Fibers in the Midspan Region of an Optical Fiber Cable; U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,390 for a Color-Coded Optical Fiber Ribbon and Die for Making the Same; U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,857 for a Method for Accessing Optical Fibers Contained in a Sheath; U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,224 for a Thick-Walled Cable Jacket with Non-Circular Cavity Cross Section; U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,016 for an Optical Fiber Ribbon Matrix Material Having Optimal Handling Characteristics; U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,012 for an Optical Fiber Having Water Swellable Material for Identifying Grouping of Fiber Groups; U.S. Pat. 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In the specification and/or FIGURE, typical embodiments of the invention have been disclosed. The present invention is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. The use of the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The FIGURE is a schematic representation and so is not necessarily drawn to scale. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A blue buffer tube, comprising: a polymeric tube that includes (i) at least about 80 weight percent homopolymer polypropylene and/or polypropylene copolymer and (ii) between about 100 and 10,000 ppm titanium dioxide; wherein, in conformance with the color specification defined in the EIA Standard EIA-359-A and with reference to the Munsell color system, the buffer tube has (i) a hue of 7.5 B to 5 PB, (ii) a value of 3 to 5.2, and (iii) a chroma of at least
 8. 2. The blue buffer tube according to claim 1, comprising one or more optical fibers positioned within said polymeric tube.
 3. The blue buffer tube according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric tube comprises (i) at least about 90 weight percent homopolymer polypropylene and/or polypropylene copolymer and (ii) between about 200 and 5,000 ppm titanium dioxide.
 4. The blue buffer tube according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric tube comprises between about 500 and 2,500 ppm titanium dioxide.
 5. The blue buffer tube according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric tube comprises between about 700 and 1,500 ppm titanium dioxide.
 6. The blue buffer tube according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric tube comprises more than 700 ppm titanium dioxide and less than 1,200 ppm titanium dioxide.
 7. The blue buffer tube according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric tube comprises more than 950 ppm titanium dioxide and less than 1,150 ppm titanium dioxide.
 8. The blue buffer tube according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric tube comprises (i) at least 90 weight percent homopolymer polypropylene and/or polypropylene copolymer and (ii) between 700 and 1,200 ppm titanium dioxide.
 9. A blue buffer tube, comprising: a polymeric tube that includes (i) at least 80 weight percent homopolymer polypropylene and/or polypropylene copolymer and (ii) more than 1,000 ppm titanium dioxide and less than 10,000 ppm titanium dioxide; wherein, in conformance with the color specification defined in the EIA Standard EIA-359-A and with reference to the with the Munsell color system, the buffer tube has (i) a hue of 7.5 B to 5 PB, (ii) a value of 3 to 5.2, and (iii) a chroma of at least
 8. 10. The blue buffer tube according to claim 9, comprising one or more optical fibers positioned within said polymeric tube.
 11. The blue buffer tube according to claim 9, wherein said polymeric tube comprises more than 1,000 ppm titanium dioxide and less than 2,000 ppm titanium dioxide.
 12. The blue buffer tube according to claim 9, wherein said polymeric tube comprises more than 1,100 ppm titanium dioxide and less than 1,500 ppm titanium dioxide.
 13. The blue buffer tube according to claim 9, wherein said polymeric tube comprises more than 1,300 ppm titanium.
 14. The blue buffer tube according to claim 9, wherein said polymeric tube comprises more than 1,500 ppm titanium dioxide and less than 3,000 ppm titanium dioxide.
 15. The blue buffer tube according to claim 9, wherein said polymeric tube comprises more than about 2,000 ppm titanium dioxide and less than about 2,500 ppm titanium dioxide.
 16. The blue buffer tube according to claim 9, wherein said polymeric tube comprises less than 7,500 ppm titanium dioxide.
 17. A blue buffer tube, comprising: a polymeric tube that includes (i) at least 90 weight percent homopolymer polypropylene and/or polypropylene copolymer and (ii) more than 1,000 ppm titanium dioxide and less than 10,000 ppm titanium dioxide; and one or more optical fibers positioned within said polymeric tube; wherein, in conformance with the color specification defined in the EIA Standard EIA-359-A and with reference to the Munsell color system, the buffer tube has (i) a hue of 7.5 B to 5 PB, (ii) a value of 3 to 5.2, and (iii) a chroma of at least
 8. 18. The blue buffer tube according to claim 17, wherein said polymeric tube comprises more than 1,000 ppm titanium dioxide and less than 2,000 ppm titanium dioxide.
 19. The blue buffer tube according to claim 17, wherein said polymeric tube comprises more than 1,100 ppm titanium dioxide and less than 1,500 ppm titanium dioxide.
 20. The blue buffer tube according to claim 17, wherein said polymeric tube comprises more than about 1,300 ppm titanium dioxide and less than about 7,500 ppm titanium dioxide.
 21. The blue buffer tube according to claim 17, wherein said polymeric tube comprises more than about 1,500 ppm titanium dioxide and less than about 3,000 ppm titanium dioxide.
 22. The blue buffer tube according to claim 17, wherein said polymeric tube comprises more than 2,000 ppm titanium dioxide and less than 2,500 ppm titanium dioxide. 